Template:Chronic neck pain - Choice of modality

Choice of modality

• X-ray of chronic neck pain is the initial imaging of choice in new or increasing non-traumatic neck pain, with absence of below findings.
• In case of new or increasing non-traumatic cervical radiculopathy, MRI of radiculopathy is the preferable initial choice.
• MRI of the neck is also the preferable initial choice in neck pain and either of the following is suspected:

• Infection
• Malignancy, including previously known malignancy and neck pain

• CT of chronic neck pain is an alternative to X-ray in new or increasing nontraumatic cervical or neck pain or radiculopathy in case of known prior cervical spine surgery.

. American College of Radiology ACR Appropriateness Criteria, Cervical Neck Pain or Cervical Radiculopathy. Revised 2018